Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BI-FOLD IMPLEMENT FRAME
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern farmers strive to improve the management of increasing amounts of farm
acres. Improving management requires farmers to be able to quickly prepare the
soil
for each season's farming operations. This haste has driven the need for more
efficient
and larger farming equipment.
Implements such as harrows, packers, or combined harrow-packers were some of
the
earliest implements to be made with widths exceeding sixty feet in the field
operating
position. As tractor horsepower has increased over time, larger tillage
implements
have been made available. These larger implements require a mechanism for
compactly folding the implement for practical and safe transport over the
highway.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,809, patented by Summach et al., discloses a convenient
mechanism for such folding.
The conventional method of folding tillage implements is by folding wing
sections
along forward aligned axes such that the wings are folded to a generally
upright
position. Double folding wing sections may have outer sections that fold
inwardly and
downwardly from the ends of inner wing sections in five section winged
implements.
In the case of these conventional wing implements, the minimum implement width
that can be achieved by such folding is limited by the width of the center
section. As a
result, road transport may still be somewhat restricted as these implements
often
exceed twenty feet or more in transport width.
Road transport standards in North America are beginning to follow the
standards set
in Europe in which maximum road .transport widths and heights for agricultural
implements are being defined. Large implements that have conventional folding
wing
sections are not able to be folded such that they fall within width and height
limits that
may be generally 3 meters wide and 4 meters high. Some U.S. states have
adopted
transport width limits of 13.5 ft.
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Forward or rear folding implements provide some relief with respect to such
transport
' limits. However, implements must also be made to function with the accurate
seeding
ability that conventionally folded implements have become capable o~ Although
some rear or forward folding multibar tillage implements have been developed,
they
do not demonstrate the accurate depth control required for farming operations.
One problem is that a tillage-packer combination for drill seeding requires
the gang
supporting tillage elements to be maintained parallel to the ground through a
range of
adjustable operating levels. The drawbar disclosed in Summach '809 raises or
lowers
the first attached gang of elements in a rotatable manner through its field
and transport
ranges of motion. A level manner of height adjustment is required for tillage
elements.
Another problem that must be overcome for compact folding is the avoidance of
the
packer elements of the second gang striking the tillage elements of the first
gang when
raised to the transport position. If compact folding is not required, then the
downward
rotation of the suspended second gang may be limited so as not to impact the
elements
of the first gang. But when compact folding is desired, the elements of the
second
gang are in direct alignment with the ground elements of the first gang so
that
alignment is achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a compact folding multibar
implement
capable of accurate depth control in field working positions.
It is another object of the invention to provide a compact folding implement
capable
of being configured either as a multibar implement or as a single bar
implement for
row crop applications, thereby providing economy in manufacturing.
One key advantage of this style of folding is that for a harrow-packer
combined
implement, the packers are pulled inward toward the implement frame
substantially
before they are lifted from the ground, which significantly reduces the
torsion
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required of the toolbar or frame elements in order to produce sufficient
lifting force to
effect compact folding.
The invention provides a farm implement frame which includes multiple
elongated
generally planar and horizontal frame sections to which individual ground
working
tools may be mounted. The frame sections extend transverse to the direction of
travel
when in the working position and include spaced apart members extending
generally
in the direction of travel when in the transport position. A latch member
connects the
implement to a tractor or other motive source at the center of the frame
sections. Each
frame member includes an inner end and a distal end connected together at
their
respective inner ends by a main pivotal connection adjacent the forward
members.
The pivotal connection defines a generally vertical axis so that the inner
ends of the
frame sections abut one another in the working position. The frame sections
are
separately supported above the ground by a first set of wheels adjacent the
inner end
of the rearward members. The frame sections are also supported by the hitch
members
and by a second set of wheels adjacent to each distal end, so as to remain
generally
parallel to the ground in the working position. Preferably one set of wheels
caster and
one set of wheels is steered.
It is an advantage of the invention that the combination of a set of cantering
wheels at
the outer end of the frame assemblies and a set of steered wheels at the inner
end of
the frame assemblies provides enhanced stability.
The invention further provides hydraulic cylinders operable between the frame
sections to move the sections between the working position and the transport
position.
A tongue member extends rearwardly of the pivot connection to anchor the
hydraulic
cylinder far moving the frame sections.
The invention also provides a pair of hydraulic cylinders connected to the
rearward
members of the frame sections. The frame sections include upper and lower
members
adjacent their respective inner ends.
The invention further provides hitch members which are pivotally connected
together
at a forward end adjacent the tractor and pivotally connected to the frame
sections
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about a generally vertical axis. The hitch members include locking means
operable in
the transport position to maintain the frame sections generally parallel to
the direction
of travel. The hitch members have no separate wheel support.
The invention also provides rockshafts pivotally attached to respective
rearward
members for movement about an axis parallel to and rearward of the frame
section
when in the working position. The rockshafts are adapted to carry tool sub-
frame
sections pivotally attached to a respective rockshaft for motion between a
generally
horizontal working position and a generally upright transport position. Tool
hydraulic
cylinders between the rockshafts and the tool sub-frame sections operate to
control
their respective relative rotational movement about the rockshaft to
accommodate
undulations in the ground when in tl~e working position.
The tool sub-frames may be shaped as a parallelogram to extend at a
substantial non-
right angle to the rockshaft and carry wheeled support members rearward of the
tool
sub-frames when in the working position. The wheeled support members include a
connecting apparatus between the tool sub-frames and the rockshaft to control
their
respective positions. The connecting apparatus is operable to provide a
working
position in which each of the tool sub-frames are substantially parallel to
and spaced
above the ground by a variable amount and is further operable to reduce the
height of
the wheel support members above the ground when the tool sub-frames are raised
to a
substantially vertical position for transport.
These and other objects, features, and advantages are accomplished according
to the
present invention by providing a frame for a tillage implement including a
pair of
opposing frame sections pivotally connected to a central lcingpost for a
folding
movement between a transversely extending working position and a
longitudinally
extending transport position. The frame sections have mounted thereto a number
of
tool sub-frames carrying ground engaging working tools. The tool sub-frames
are
pivotally movable relative to a rockshaft carried by the frame sections so as
to be
rotatable between a lowered operative position and a generally vertical raised
non-
working position. The frame sections are connected at the inner end to the
kingpost so
that the main frame members abut when placed in the working position. Each
frame
member is supported by a pair of wheel assemblies at the inner and distal ends
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respectively. The inner wheel assemblies of each frame section is steered by a
link
connecting the wheel spindle to the hitch member to control the orientation
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The advantage of the present invention can be seen with reference to the
following
drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a right rear perspective view of a tillage implement incorporating
the
principles of the present invention, the implement being ouented in a
transport
position with the tool sub-frames being elevated and the frame sections being
folded
forwardly, the implement being connected to a tractor as a source of motive
power;
FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged right rear perspective view of the pivotal
connection
between the opposing frame sections oriented as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial top plan view of the rear pivotal connection
shown in
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a right side elevational ~~iew of the tillage implement with the
tool sub-
frames being raised to a vertical transport position, the frame sections being
partially
folded from the working position;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial rear elevational view of the tillage implement
as shown
in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a partial right side perspective view of the left frame section with
the tool
sub-frames being partially raised upwardly toward a vertical transport
position;
FIG. 7 is a partial left side perspective view of the right frame section with
the tool
sub-frames elevated above the ground and the frame sections being partially
folded
toward the transport position; and
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FIG. 8 is a partial upper left perspective view of the tillage implement with
the tool
frames and tool sub-frames in the working position, the frame sections being
abutted,
a central portion of the right main from being broken away for purposes of
clarity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, the details of the present invention can best be
seen. Left
and right references are used as a matter of convenience, and are determined
by
standing at the rear of the implement facing the tractor attached thereto and
looking in
the direction of travel.
The tillage implement 1 includes elongated frame sections 2a, 2b pivotally
connected
to a central rear kingpost 3. The frame sections 2a, 2b are pivotally movable
between
a transversely extending working position, shown best in FIG. 8, and a
longitudinally
extending transport position, as best seen in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the frame
sections
2a, 2b are folded to be generally aligned with the direction of travel when in
the
transport position. Each frame section is independently supported above the
ground
by a pair of wheel assemblies 5 mounted, respectively, at the inner kingpost
end 16
and at the outer distal end 16'. Preferably, the wheel assembly 5 at the inner
kingpost
end 16 is steered so as to control the orientation thereof relative to being
in the
transport or working positions. The wheel assembly 5 at the outer distal end
16' may
be castered.
As best seen in FIG. 8, the main frame members 7 of the frame sections 2a, 2b
are
latched together when in the working position by a latch mechanism having a
latch
bar 41 on frame section 2b and a latch hook 40 on the frame section 2a. The
latch
hook 40 is operatively connected by a link 42 to the hydraulic fold cylinder
14a to
effect operation thereof in response to the mavement of the hydraulic fold
cylinder
14a to pivotally move the frame sections 2a, 2b between the transport and
working
positions. The wheel assembly 5 at the inner kingpost end 16 is steered by a
link 51
interconnecting the hitch member 18 and a mounting arm 50 extending outwardly
from the spindle of the wheel assembly 5. The link 51 provides a fixed
distance
between the mounting arm 50 and the connecting point with the hitch member 18
to
keep the wheel assembly S oriented therewith. As a result, the wheel assembly
5 at the
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inner kingpost end 16 is pivotally moved relative to the respective frame
section 2a,
2b when moving between the transport and working positions. The castering of
the
wheel assembly 5 at the outer distal end 16' of each frame section 2a, 2b does
not
require pivotal control.
Each frame section 2a, 2b includes an elongated main frame member 7 and an
elongated secondary frame member 8 positioned forwardly of the main frame
member
7 when in the working position. The main frame member 7 and the secondary
frame
member 8 are substantially spaced apart as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 and are
interconnected by an end frame assembly 10. The end frame assembly 10 spaces
the
kingpost 3 from the wheel assembly 5 at the end 1 b of the respective frame
section 2a,
2b to provide stability in transport as the aspect ratio of the pair of frame
sections 2a,
2b joined together at the kingpost 3 is reduced by a factor of 4 while the
width of the
implement 1 is narrow enough for transport over a highway.
As shown in FIG. 2, the kingpost 3 defines a vertical pivot axis 4 about which
the
frame sections 2a, 2b pivot between working and transport positions. The
kingpost 3
includes a rearwardly extending support bracket 12 to which is mounted a pair
of
hydraulic fold cylinders 14a, 14b interconnecting the support bracket 12 and
the main
frame member 7 of the respective frame sections 2a, 2b. Manipulation of the
length of
the hydraulic fold cylinders 14a, 14b controls the pivotal movement of the
frame
sections 2a, 2b between the forwardly folded transport position and the
transversely
extending working position.
Each frame section 2a, 2b also includes a pivotally connected hitch member 18
mounted at a pivot 17 on the main frame member 7 and extending forwardly
therefrom to a hitch mechanism (not shown) for connection. to a tractor or
other prime
mover 19 as best seen in FIG. 4.
Each frame section 2a, 2b has mounted thereto rearwardly extending tool sub-
frames
25 pivotally rotatable about a generally horizontally extending rockshaft 22
for
movement between a lowered operating position, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and
a
raised generally vertical non-working position, as shown in FIG. 1. The
rockshaft 22
is pivotally attached at a pivot lug 23 extending rearwardly from the
respective frame
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sections 2a, 2b and extends generally parallel to the main frame member 7
rearwardly
thereof. Rotation of the tool sub-frames 25 fully into the non-working
position, as
seen in FIG. 6, places the tool sub-frames over center with xespect to the
rockshaft 22.
Additionally, each frame section 2a, 2b is provided with a plurality of tool
sub-frames
25a-25d. The relative position of each sub-frame 25a-25d is controlled by a
hydraulic
lift cylinder 27 which determines the working height of the respective tool
sub-frame
25a-25d above the ground by relative rotation of the tool sub-frame about the
connection with the rockshaft 22. The rear of each tool sub-frame 25a-25d is
supported above the ground by support wheel assemblies 28, as best seen in
FIG. 4,
connected to the tool sub-frame 25 by a pivoted connecting arm 29. The
relative
pivoted position of the connecting arm 29 is determined by a connecting link
30
connected to the roclcshaft 22 to provide a fixed distance between the
rockshaft 22 and
the support wheel assembly 28 when the tool sub-frame 25 is pivoted by the
hydraulic
lift cylinder 27, as best shown in FIG. 6. As the tool sub-frames 25 are
rotated about
the rockshaft .22, the connecting link 30 operates through a linkage 36 to
bring the
support wheel assembly 28 into close proximity to the tool sub-frame 25 when
placed
into the upright non-working position.
Each tool sub-frame 25 independently floats on its own hydraulic lift cylinder
27
which are hydraulically connected in parallel with one another to provide a
single
hydraulic adjustment of the working height of the sub-frames 25a-25d together.
The
independent movement of any one particular sub-frame 25 forces hydraulic fluid
through the corresponding lift cylinder to be shared between the remaining
hydraulic
lift cylinders 27, thereby providing for an independent floatational action of
the sub-
frames 25a-25d.
Each interior sub-frame 25a-25c, as seen in FIG. 4, provides for transverse
rows of
tool mounting positions 32. The sides 33 of the interior sub-frames 25a-25c
are
irregularly spaced from one another so as to provide for continuous tool
coverage
while allowing for access spaces 34 between each sub-frame 25. Preferably
spaces 34
are straight sided due to the parallelogram shaping of the tool sub-frames 25.
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Depth control for the tillage tools carried by the toal sub-frames 25 is
accomplished
through the rotation of the rockshaft 22 about its pivot lug 23. When in the
lowered
working position, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rockshaft 22 is free to pivot
vertically about the horizontal pivot lug 23 through manipulation of the
hydraulic
cylinders 27. The mounting of the hydraulic cylinders 27 on the mounting arm
61
affixed to the rockshaft 22 provides a mechanical advantage with respect to
the
pivotal connection of the tool sub-frames 25 at pivot 62 carried by the
rockshaft 22.
Accordingly, the expansion and contraction of the hydraulic cylinders 27,
acting in
concert due to the parallel hydraulic connection thereof, causes a
corresponding
rotation of the rockshaft 22 about its pivot lug 23, which in turn raises
and/or lowers
respectively the front pivotal connection 62 of the tool sub-frames 25 to the
rockshaft
22. The connecting link 30 serves to complete a four-bar linkage with respect
to the
tool sub-frame 25 and causes the rear of the sub-frame supported by the
support wheel
assembly 28 to raise and/or lower a corresponding amount, thus keeping the sub-
frame generally parallel to the ground and effecting a corresponding depth
control for
the tillage tools. The pin 66 at the inner end of the right rockshaft 22 is
engageable
with the slotted bracket 67 at the inner end of the left rackshaft 22 to
connect the
movements of the rockshafts 22 when in the operating position, thus assuring a
uniform depth control across the entire width of the implement 1. The open
slotted
bracket 67 is free to disengage from the pin 66 whenever the frame sections
2a, 2b are
folded forwardly to the transport position.
To raise the tool sub-frames 2~ into their generally vertical transport
position, the
hydraulic cylinders 27 are completely retracted, thereby raising the tool sub-
frames 25
to their maximum operating height whereupon the locking levers 63 engage
locking
members 64 mounted on top of the rockshaft 22 to secure the rockshaft in an
immobilized position in which the locking levers 63 restrain the pivotal
movement of
the rockshaft 22 about the pivot lug 23. A subsequent extension of the
hydraulic
cylinders 27 will then push against the immobilized rockshaft 22 'and cause
the tool
sub-frames 25 to pivot vertically about the pivots 62 until reaching the fully
raised
transport position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Once the tool sub-frames 25 have
been
lowered back to the maximum raised operating position, the rockshaft 22 is
freed
from the restraint imposed by the locking levers 63 by manually grasping one
of the
locking levers and disengaging the corresponding locking member 64. The cross
link
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65 interconnects all of the locking levers 63 on each frame section 2a, 2b,
allowing
the movement of one lever to disengage the entire set of locking levers 63
from the
members 64. The tool sub-frames 25 are then free to move throughout the
permissible
range of working movement to control the operating depth of the tillage tools.
The invention of this application has been described above both generically
and with
regard to specific embodiments. Although the invention has been set forth in
what is
believed to be the preferred embodiments, a wide variety of alternatives known
to
those of skill in the art can be selected within the generic disclosure. The
invention is
not otherwise limited, except for the recitation of the claims set forth
below.
